Fence-clamp.



J. G. RUSSELL.

FENCE GLAMI.

APPLICATION rum) FEB.13, 1912.

Patented Aug. 12, 1913.

Attorneys FFTQE.

JOHN G. RUSSELL, OF FARMINGTON, MISSOURI.

FENCE-CLAMP.

Application filed February 13, 1912.

To all Mill-0772, it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN G. RUssnLL, acitizen of the United States, residing at F armington, in the county ofSt. Francois and State of Missouri, have invented a new and usefulFence-Clamp, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fence clamps, and has for its object toprovide an improved device of this character adapted to clamp or gripthe strands of a woven wire fence, or the like, and which is adapted tobe connected to a draft mechanism or stretcher for drawing the fencetaut.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a device of thischaracter which is simple, efficient and serviceable.

To the above ends, this invention is embodied in the novel constructionand combination of parts elicited in the following description andpointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that this deviceis susceptible of alterations or deviations in its details within thescope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein similar reference characters indicatesimilar parts, and wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the clampas in use. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof, parts being broken away.Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2, be ing on an enlargedscale. Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line ei4i of Fig. 2.Figs. 5 and 6 are perspective views of details.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numerals 10 and 11 designatetwo clamping bars or clamping members, which have their adjoining facesscarfed longitudinally and their respective outer faces and 24converging forwardly, or toward the front edges of the bars. Theadjoining faces of the bars 10 and 11 have the respective rearwardcomplementary seats 17 and 18, which have a gentle bevel, and therespective forward complementary seats 19 and 20 which have a greaterbevel, arranged at an obtuse angle relative to the respective seats 17and 18, whereby the adjoining faces of the bars are scarfedlongitudinally. The bars 10 and 11 are of wood or other suitablematerial, and the respective strips of metal, or other similar materialdesignated by the nu- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented A11 12,1913.

Serial No. 677,343.

merals 21 and 22, are secured to the adjoining faces of the bars 10 and11 at the inner edges of the seats 19 and 18. Plates 26 are arranged atthe ends of the bars 10 and 11 and have U-shaped flanges 27 receivingthe ends of the bars, the said flanges passing around the sides andfront edges of the bars. A bolt 28, or other pivotal member, is passedthrough the ends of each of the flanges 27, and through the ends of thebars 10 and 11 adjacent their rear edges. A pair, or more if desired, ofU-shaped clamping members 1 1 having diverging arms fit over the frontedges and the sides of the bars 10 and 11 and each have a strengtheningor reinforcing rib 15 extending around the outer sides thereof. Theclamping members 14 are secured to the bar or member 10 by means ofscrews 16, or in any other suitable manner, and the bar 11 is splitdiagonally, as designated by the numeral 25, between the said clampingmembers 14, thereby dividing the bar 11 into the sections 12 and 13, theinner end of the section 12 overlapping the inner end of the section 13.The bolts or pivotal members 28 pivot the outer ends of the sections 12and 13 of the bar 11 to the respective ends of the bar 10, therebypermitting the said sections to open and swing away from the bar 10 injack-knife fashion, whereby the strands of the woven wire fence, or thelike, may be received between the two bars. When the strands of a fenceare brought against the inner face of the bar 10, the sections 12 and 13are swung against or folded against the bar 10, the scarfed faces of thetwo bars coinciding and the sections 12 and 13 of the bar 11 beingreceived by the re. spective arms of the clamping members 1a. The armsof the clamping members 14 diverging rearwardly and the outer faces ofthe sections 12 and 13 converging forwardly toward the outer face of thebar 10 cause the sections 12 and 13 to be pressed against the bar 10upon the sections being received by the clamping members 14, and in thismanner the strands are securely clamped or gripped between the inner oradjoining faces of the clamping bars or clamping members 10 and 11, thestrips 21 and 22 also binding the strands to assist in the clamping orgripping action.

In use, in applying the clamp to the strands of a fence, the clamp isarranged in an upright position adjacent the strands to be clamped andthe sections 12 and 13 of the bar 11 are then swung open rearwardly,whereby the strands may be brought against the inner or scarfed face ofthe bar 10'. The sections 12 and 13 are then brought on the other sideof the strands, as the bar 10 is brought against the strands, and byswinging the said sections against the bar 10 the strands are securelyclamped or gripped between the inner or scarfed faces of the two bars,the clamping members 14L receiving the sect-ions 12 and 18 and pressingthe same tightly against the bar 10 to assist in the gripping orclamping action. The sections 12 and 13 are pivoted to the bar 10 toswing rearwardly, and the clamp may therefore be applied to the strandsof a fence in a comparatively small space, there being no laterallyprojecting or laterally swinging members embodied in the clamp. Thisclamp is connected to a draft mecha nism or stretcher by means of aclevis 29, or the like, which is engaged over the rear edges of thebars, whereby as the clamp is drawn by the stretching mechanism or draftmechanism, the sections 12 and 13 are drawn into the clamping members14: to bind the strands. By removing the clevis 29, the sections 12 and13 may be readily opened to release the strands of the fence, after thefence has been drawn taut and secured in position. In this manner, itwill be noted that the clamp may be readily and,

conveniently attached to the strands of a woven wire fence, or the like,in order that the fence may be stretched, and it will be noted that thisdevice is simple in its construction, as well as eflicient andserviceable.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. A fenceclamp embodying two clamping bars, one bar being split intermediate itsends to form sections which are pivoted to the ends of the other bar andwhich are adapted to open and swing away from the other bar forreceiving the strands of a fence, and means for pressing the saidsections against the other bar when the sections are folded against thesaid bar.

2. A fence clamp embodying two clamping bars, one bar being splitintermediate its ends to form sections which are pivoted to the ends ofthe other bar and which are adapted to open and swing away from theother bar for receiving the strands of a fence, and means carried by thelatter bar to receive and press the said sections against the latter barwhen the sections are folded against the said bar.

3. A clamp embodying two pivoted members, and a U-shaped memberstraddling them to normally press them together and having one armsecured to one member, the other member being free toswing open.

4.. A fence clamp embodying two clamping bars having their adjoiningfaces scarfed longitudinally and their outer faces converging forwardly,plates arranged at the ends of the said bars and having U-shaped flangesreceiving the ends of the bars, pivotal members passing through the endsof the flanges and the ends of the bars, and U-shaped clamping membershaving diverging arms and fitting over the front edges and sides of thebars, said clamping mem bers being secured to one of the bars and theother bar being split between the said clamping members to form twosections adapted to open and swing away from the former bar forreceiving the strands of a fence, and the said clamping members beingadapted to receive the said sections when they are folded against theformer bar and tending to press the sect-ions against the said bar.

5. A fence clamp embodying two clamping bars, and U-shaped clampingmembers fitting over one of the edges and the sides of the bars, saidclamping members being secured to one of the bars, the other bar beingsplit between the clamping members to form two sections which arepivoted to the ends of the former bar and which are adapted to open andswing away from the former bar for receiving the strands of a fence,said clamping members being adapted to receive the said sections whenthe sections are folded against the former bar.

6. A fence clamp embodying a clamping bar, a member pivoted thereto andadapted to open in jackhnife fashion to receive the strands of a fence,and a member carried by the said bar to receive and press the saidmember against the bar when the member is swung against same.

7. A clamp embodying two pivoted members, having their outer facesconverging forwardly, and a U-shaped member having diverging armsstraddling the forward edges of the said members, and secured to onemember, in order that the other member is pressed against the formermember when received by the U-shaped member.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence .of two witnesses.

JOHN Gr. RUSSELL. Vitnesses J. E. Covnn, FinLDiNe MCOORMIQK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Iatents,

Washington, D. C.

